Rocket launcher



March 22, 1949. c. w. CARTER ROCKET LAUNCHER 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 27, 1947 March 22, 1949. c. w. CARTER ROCKET LAUNCHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1947 rye owm nw w w A,

March 22, 1949.

Filed Jan. 27, 1947 C. W. CARTER ROCKET LAUNCHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 a M M M w, w 1, 6,

C. W. CARTER March 22, 1949.

ROCKET LAUNCHER March 22, 194-9. 3, w CARTER 2,464,920

ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Jan. 2'7, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNHE'E res ears r ROCKET LAUNCHER Application January 27, 1947, Serial No. 724,683

13 Claims.

This invention relates to rocket launchers and more particularly to a launcher of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 2,450,951, granted on October 12, 1948, upon an application of William V. Goodhue, having a magazine adapted to hold a supply of rockets which are advanced one by one into a firing position where they are fired automatically.

In certain prior launchers of this type the rockets are disposed side by side in engagement with each other in a magazine through which they are advanced into firing position by gravity. Under some extreme conditions of unsteadiness or elevation under which such equipment is used, the advancing movement of the rockets may become erratic or interrupted owing to the tendency for the rockets to become cramped against each other and the parts of the magazine which support and guide them.

Safety conditions may require a launcher to be unloaded whenever conditions calling for a state of readiness for firing hav passed. The rockets are usually too inaccessible within the magazine to be reached and removed through the loading space, and with some installations unloading the magazine by advancing the rockets into and beyond the firing position (without firing or jettisoning) is impracticable and dangerous.

In view or the foregoing, it is a general object of this invention to provide a launcher of the above-mentioned type in the operation of which the advancing of the rockets into firing position and their firing is rendered as certain as possible without detracting from the rate of firing, and the unloading of the magazine is facilitated.

To this end, in the illustrated launcher the rockets are advanced into firing position by mechanism which at all times is under the control of the operator and holds the rockets in fixed relation widthwise and axially thereof, apart from each other and from any fixed part of the magazine except its bottom along which the rockets roll. This mechanism is operable in one direc-' tion to advance the rockets into the firing position and also in the reverse direction, for unloading purposes, to return the rockets to the space through which they were loaded in the magazine.

This mechanism also includes a gate which, in accordance with another feature of the invention, is synchronized with the movement of the rockets, controls their final movement into the firing position, and then is immobilized and indexed in a temporarily fixed position where it cooperates with a rail to form a launching way for supporting the leading rocket in firing position. Such control of the gate is afforded by a'novel latch mechanism which is operated by the leading rocket during its final movement into the firing position.

Firing is automatically effected electrically. The firing circuit is closed by the engagement of the rocket with firing terminals and the actuation of a switch associated with the above-mentioned latch mechanism. However, if a rocket misfires it may be jettisoned by being discharged by gravity from the launcher. For this purpose operator control means is provided for releasing the gate, which, upon being driven to advance the succeeding rocket into firing position, moves from beneath the leading rocket.

This latter rocket thus falls off the launching rail and out of the launcher.

Provision is also made in the illustrated launcher for preventing, when the above-mentioned latch mechanism is in its inoperative position, movement of the rockets ineither direction in response to any force except a driving force exerted by the operator. To this end, the "invention provides a brake, associated with the rocket feeding means, which is released in response to a driving force exerted in either direction by the operator, but which is engaged in response to any tendency of the rockets to overrun or counter-run their movement as established by the operator. Accordingly, the operator is not required to resist the gravitational self-feeding tendency of the rockets, nor can severe jolting of the launcher cause the rockets to be moved on this account either toward or away from the firing position.

The above and various other features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detail description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative launcher embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of the firing I means;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the launcher, parts of which have been broken away and omitted more clearly to show the operating mechanism;

Fig.4 is an end elevation of the launcher as viewed from the rear; V

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of the forward lower portion of the launcher;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the lower portion of the launcher, as viewed from the rear, illus trating the mechanism for transferring rockets from the magazine into the firing position;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a part of the driving mechanism for operating and synchronizing the rocket feeding means and gate;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of mechanism indicated by the section line VIIL-VIII in Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of mechanism for controlling the gate and operating the firing switch.

The illustrated launcher comprises a magazine III (Figs. 1 and 4) adapted to hold a plurality of rockets R which are held in parallel, spaced relation, and are advanced toward the firing position by feeding means comprising a pair of chains I2, I4, the latter being connected by a series of bars I6. The lower runs of the chains I2, I4 are disposed substantially at the centers of the rockets as they rest upon and roll down the slope of the magazine. Thechains I2, I4 are movable only in response to a driving ,force resulting from the operation of a crank I8 by the operator. When turned in one direction the crank causes the rockets R to be advanced downwardly through the magazine; but the crank may be turned in the reverse direction to move the rockets to the upper part of the magazine from which they can be easily removed in succession if it is desired to unload the magazine.

The rockets R, upon reaching the lower ends of the lower runs of the chains I2, I4, are received in the upper and inner compartment of a rotating gate 20 which is operable to transfer the rockets into the firing position, as well as to discharge them from this position in case it is desired to jettison them.

For this purpose the gate 20 is rotated in synchronism with the chains I2, I4 causing the leading rocket under the control of the chains to be deposited upon the gate and then to be lowered onto a launching rail 22 (Figs. 4 and 6). At this time, the gate is automatically locked against rotation by a latch 24, the gate thus being immobilized and indexed in such a position that it cooperates with the rail 22 to support the leading rocket infiring position as illustrated in Fig. 6. The latch is thus operated, during the latter part of the movement of the rocket into firing position, by mechanism including a feeler lever 26 which normally extends within the space occupiedby the rocket in firing position.

This operation of the feeler lever also results in the closing of a firing switch 28, which is connected in series with a manually controlled switch (not shown) at the firing station and a pair of contact knives 30, 32 (Fig. 3) arranged to be engaged by the usual contact bands on the rocket in firing position. Upon the closing of the switch 28 the rocket in firing position is fired, and is directed in its initial flight by the launching way provided by the gate 20 and the rail 22. The fired rocket, immediately upon leaving the launcher, releases the. feeler lever 26 which causes the latch 24 to be released from the gate 28, thereby permitting the operator immediately to advance the succeeding rocket into firing position. v

Provision for jettisoning a misfired rocket is afforded by an operator controlled mechanism for releasing the latch 24 from the gate 20, this mechanism comprising a hand lever 34.

Having briefly outlined the mode of operation of the launcher, the details of its construction will now be described.

The frame of the magazine I0 comprises a pair of end plates 36, 38 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) which at their lower edges are fastened by a series of bolts 48 to the upstanding flanged edges of a bottom plate 42. From the bottom plate there extends downwardly a pedestal 43 which may be of any suitable construction as determined by installation requirements. One typical mount for a launcher of this type which permits the launcher to be trained and elevated is disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 2,450,951, granted on October 12, 1948, upon an application of William V.- Goodhue et al.'

Extending upwardly from the bottom plate 42 are a pair of tracks 44, 46 which are parallel to the end plates 36, 38 and along which the rockets roll until control of their movement is taken over by the gate 20, i. e., until the rockets reach a position directly above the gate.- The rockets are prevented from being displaced upwardly by a grill 48' which is 'fastened by a series of bolts 66 to the end plates 36, 38. The launcher is closed at its outer side by a perforated plate 62 which is secured to the end plates 36, 38 by bolts 64. To the inner side of the plate 62 are fixed a series of fins 56, the inner edges of which are curved so as to define a space concentric with the gate 20 within which the rockets are confined as they drop vertically from the tracks 44, 46 onto the rail 22. The rail is also fixed to the inner side of the plate 52 near its lower edge.

As mentioned above, the rockets are held in spaced parallel relation between the bars I, each of which has an abutment at one end constituted by a flange 58 (Fig. 3), and near its other end a spacer in the form of a conical collar 68. These collars are adapted to be adjusted lengthwise of the bars I6 so that, by their engagement with the tapering nose portion of a rocket, they cause the latter to be positioned axially thereof with the base of its case seated against the flanges 58. A illustrated in Fig. 4, the lower runs of the chains I4, I6 are disposed substantially at the level of the centers of the rockets, the chains being supported in this position by a series of idler sprockets 62, 64 (Figs. 3 and 4) respectively. These sprockets are mounted to rotate freely on studs 66, 68 which are fixed to the end plates 36,

38 respectively.

The chains I2, I4 are driven in unison by a pair of sprockets I0, 12 respectively which are fixed to a common drive shaft I4. This shaft at one end is rotatably mounted oh the end plat 38 and at its opposite end runs in a bearing I6 (Fig. 7) which is carried by the end plate 36. The upper loops of the chains I2 and I4 are carried by sprockets I8, 88 (Figs. 1 and 3) respectively, which are mounted far enough away from the extreme upper end of the magazine to provide a space through which rockets may be' placed upon the tracks 44, 46 for loading purposes. The sprockets 18, 80 are rotatably mounted on studs 82, 84 which are secured to the end plates 36, 38, respectively, the latter being provided with elongated slots 86 in which the studs are adjustable for the purpose of taking up any slack in the chains.

For the convenience of the operator, the crank I8 is located near the upper end of the magazine, in proximity to the loading station,

and is connected to the above described feeding mechanism by mechanim now to be described. The crank is mounted on a shaft 88 (Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 7) which is rotatably mounted in a hearing 80 fixed to the end plate 36. To the inner end of this shaft is fixed a sprocket 82 over which runs the upper loop of a drive chain 84, the lower loop of which runs on a sprocket 36. This latter sprocket is fixed to a shaft 98 which is rotatably mounted in the end plate 36 and carries at its outer end a gear I08. This gear meshes with another gear I82 which is fixed to a shaft I04, the latter being rotatably mounted in a bearing formed in a housing I06 which is secured to the end plate 88 by a series of bolts I08. The shaft I04 also has fixed thereto a ear IIO which meshes with another gear I I2 which is formed on a sleeve II 4, the latter being rotatably mounted on the extreme end of the abovementioned drive shaft I4. This sleeve also has a running fit with a bushing II6 which is received within a drum H8. The bushing and drum are both secured by screws I20 to a flange I22 extending outwardly from the end plate 36.

The shaft I4 is normally locked against rotatlon in either direction by mechanism including a coil spring shoe I24 which closely fits with-' in the drum H8. The ends of the spring are bent to form hooks I26, I28 (Figs. '7 and 8) between which is a key I30, the latter being fixed to the shaft 14'. The sleeve H4 is slotted to provide shoulders I32, I34 which are disposed substantially in contact with the reentrant sides of the hooks I26, I28, respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 8. When the crank I8 is turned so as to advance rockets toward the firing position (in a clockwise direction, Fig. 4) the sleeve II4 through the mechanism above described, is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8. Such rotation of the sleeve causes its shoulder I32 to engage the hook I26, thereby to hold this end of the spring against the key I30, and to rotate the shaft I4. Owing to the frictional dragging action between the spring I24 and the drum II8, the sleeve I I4, by its engagement with the hook I26, tends to tension and deform the spring so as to diminish its diameter, whereby any clutch effect between the spring I24 and the drum I I8 is avoided.

If it is desired to reverse the direction of the feed chains, as for the purpose of unloading the magazine,-the crank I8 is turnedin a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 4) whereupon the shoulder I34 cooperates with the hook I28 of the spring I24' to drive the shaft I4 inthe same manner as has already been described above but in the opposite direction. However, the spring I24 prevents any overrunning or counterrunning of the feed chains, which might be caused by any tendency of the rockets to be either advanced or reversed as from the effect of gravity or any other cause. Any driving force exerted by the shaft I4 itself is communicated to the spring I24 through the key I30, which by engaging either the hook I26 or the hook I28, causes the spring to be deformed (expanded) into gripping engagement with the drum II8. Accordingly, any tendency for the feeding mechanism to move in either direction, except as a result of operating the crank I8, is immediately checked as soon as it arises.

The gate 20 (Figs. 3 and 6) comprises a pair of four-armed spiders I36, I38, which at their ends are connected by a series of bars I40, the bars being so spaced as to define four compartments adapted to receive the rockets R. The spiders are fixed to a shaft I42, which at its ends is rotatably mounted in bearings formed in the end plates 36, 38, the bearings being so located with regard to the lower run of the feed chains I2, I4 as to cause that bar I40, which is approaching a vertical position, to move into the space between the last two rockets on the tracks 44, 46. Such movement of the ate is insured by synchronizing its operation with that of the feed chains I2, I4 through the connections now to be described.

The end of the shaft I42 (Figs. 3, 4 and '7) within the housing I06 has fixed thereto a gear I44 which meshes with an idler gear I46 rotatably mounted on a stud I48 carried by a boss formed integrally with the end plate 36. The gear I46 meshes with, and is driven by, the

above-mentioned gear IIO. It will now be ap-' parent that each elevated bar I takes over the control of that rocket which moves out of the control of the bars I6 as they move upwardly around the sprockets I0, I2. When a rocket has been lowered by the gate 20 onto the rail 22 into such a position that the rocket is aligned with clearance holes I50 in the end plates 36, 38, the gate 20 is immobilized by the engagement of the latch 24 (Figs. 5, 6 and 9) with a notched index plate I52 which is keyed to the shaft I42.

The index plate has a series of notches I53, each of which when engaged by the latch'causes the gate to be immobilized with one of the bars I40 cooperating with the rail 22 to hold the leading rocket in the firing position as illustrated in Fig.

6. This locking of the gate 20 is effected by I mechanism which is operated in response to the movement of the feeler lever 26 during the last stage in the movement of the rocket into the firing position.

The latch 24 is pivotally mounted on a stud I54 fixed to the end plate 38 and is normally held out of the path of the index plate I52 by a rod I56 which is pivoted to the latch at I58. This rod, at its other end, is pivotally connected by a pin I60 to a lever I62, the upper end of which is adapted to operate the plunger I64 of the above-mentioned switch 28. At its lower end the lever I62 is mounted to swing on a shaft I66, the ends of which are rotatably mounted in the end plate 38 and the fin 56 adjacent thereto. A positive drive in one direction between the shaft I66 and lever I62 is provided by a pair of pins I68, I10, the former acting as a stop for the latter and being inserted into alined holes in the shaft I66 and a collar II2 thereon. The pin H0 is fixed to the lower ends of two arms I14 of the lever I62 which extend below the shaft I66. The above-mentioned feeler lever '26 is pinned to the shaft I66 and has hooked about the lever I62 having been moved against the force of a spring II8 which is weaker than the spring I16. The spring I18 is coiled about the shaft I66, the lower end of this spring being arranged to engage the pin "0 and the upper end to engage the inner side of the side plate 52. The spring I18, therefore, yieldingly holds the pin "0 in engagement with the pin I68, and yet permits the lever I62 to be moved independently of the shaft I 66 in that direction which causes the latch 24 to be disengaged from the index plate as, for example, when it is desired to release the gate 20 for the purpose of jettisoning a misfired rocket.

If a rocket misfires, that rocket may be jettisoned by actuating the above-mentioned lever 34 to release the latch '24 from the index plate, and then by operating the crank I8 to cause the lowermost bar I40 of the gate 20 to move far enough from the rail 22 to permit the misfired rocket to fall out of the launcher by gravity. Assuming that the rocket next to be fired is approaching the firing position, the latch 24 will be held out of engagement with the index plate I52 by the effect of the spring I16 and the feeler lever 28 will be extending into a space somewhat above the'surface of the rail 22 which supports the rocket in firing position. In the last stage of the movement of a rocket into firing position, it lowers the feeler lever 28, causing the lever I82, under the effect of the spring I18, both to depress the plunger I84, thereby closing the switch 28, and also to hold the latch 24 in engagement with the index plate I52. As soon as the gate 28 reaches the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 6, the latch 24 snaps into a notch I53 in the index plate I52, thereby temporarily locking all the operating mechanism of the launcher. The closing of the firing circuit is completed by the engagement of the contact bands on the rocket with the contact knives 38, 32 which protrude very slightly from the rocket-engaging surface of the rail 22 through clearance holes in the rail, and are mounted on a pair of springs I80, I82, respectively, the latter being fixed to a block of insulation (not shown) mounted on the rail in the opening between the rail and the side plate 52. As soon as a .fired rocket departs from the launcher, the lever 26 is again released and the latch 24 is urged away from the index plate I52 by the effect of the spring I16.

This motion of the latch is assisted by a blastoperated lever I84 which is pivoted to a bracket I85 by means of a stud I88. The bracket I86 is I fixed to the end plate 38 in such a position that the inner end of the lever,..l84 is adjacent to the upper end of the latch 24. The lever I84 extends through a clearance hole in the end plate 38, and at its outer end has fixed thereto a vane I 90 which normally is disposed substantially perpendicular to the end plate, so that it will intercept the blast of a fired rocket as the blast mushrooms along the front of the launcher. The blast of the fired rocket causes the lever I84 to impinge upon the latch 24 with enough force to insure that the latch will be removed from the index .plate I52. ,The lever I84 is yieldingly held away from the latch 24 by a spring I92 which connects the lever and the bottom plate 42.

The jettisoning lever 34 is mounted just outside of the end plate 38 on a shaft I94 which is rotatably. mounted on the end plates 38, 88. Adjacent to the end plate 38, an arm I96 is I fixed to the shaft I94 beside the above-mentioned pinllill which plvotally connects the lever I82 with the rod I58. The arm I96 is normally somewhat spaced from the pin I88 as determined by a stop I98 which is fixed to the shaft I94 and is adapted to strike the side plate 52. The arm I98 is held in itsinoperative position (away from the pin I80) by a spring 208 which is coiled about the shaft I94, one end of the spring being wrapped around the stop I98 and the other end being-arranged to engage the side plate 52. It is now evident that the release of the latch from the index plate I52 is effected positively by turning the lever 34 (as viewed in Fig. 4) in a counterclockwise direction. Thereafter, the rocket in firing position may be jettisoned by operating the crank I8 which also causes the succeeding rocket to be advanced into firing position.

If, upon cessation of firing, it is desired to unload the launcher, the operator turns the lever 34 to hold the latch 24 out of engagement with the index plate I52 and then turns the crank I8 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) until all the rockets have been brought to the top of the magazine and have been removed therefrom in succession.

Having described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. In a. rocket launcher, a launching rail, a magazine, feeding means for advancing rockets through said magazine and into, firing position on said rail, said feeding means comprising a plurality of members spaced to receive rockets therebetween and mounted for movement in parallelism with each other toward the firing position,a gate having partitions defining compartments adapted to receive rockets from said feeding means, means for driving said feeding means and gate in synchronism with each other whereby rockets are transferred from said feeding means to said gate and thence onto said launching rail, and mechanism operated by the leading rocket during its final movement onto said rail for immobilizing said gate whereby the leading rocket is supported in firing position ,by said rail and that partition of said gate which is beneath the leading rocket.

2. In a rocket launcher, a launching rail, a magazine, feeding means for advancing rockets through said magazine into firing position on said rail, said feeding means comprising a plurality of bars spaced to receive rockets therebetween and mounted for movement in parallelism with each other toward the firing position, a gate having partitions defining compartments adapted to receive rockets from said feeding means, means for driving said feeding means and said gate in synchronism with each other whereby rockets are transferred from said feeding means to said gate and thence onto said launching rail, and means for immobilizing said gate to cause one of said partitions and said launching rail to support the leading rocket in firing position.

3. In a rocket launcher, a launching way, a magazine, means for advancing rockets through said magazine into firing position on said way, said means comprising a pair of shafts each carrying pair of sprockets, a pair of chains mounted on said-sprockets, a plurality of bars connected to said chains parallel to each other, successive bars being spaced to receive a rocket therebetween, each of said bars having fixed thereto an abutment having shoulders adapted to be engaged by the side and end surfaces of the tail portions of the rockets at each side of said abutment, and a spacer mounted for adjustment on each of said bars axially thereof into close proximity to the adjacent sides of the nose portions of the rockets at each side thereof whereby the rockets are held in parallel relation to said bars.

4. In a rocket launcher, a launching rail, a magazine through which rockets are advanced toward a hiring position on said rail, a gate having partitions defining compartments adapted to i receive rockets from said magazine, means for driving said gate to advance rockets in succession onto said launching rail, means operated by the leading rocket during its final movement onto said rail for immobilizing said gate whereby the rocket is supported in firing position by said rail and that partition of said gate which is beneath the leading rocket, and operator controlled means for rendering the last-mentioned means inoperative thereby'to' release said gate for movement to jettison the rocket in firing position.

aceao a gate for advancing the rockets from said magazine into firing position, operator controlled means for driving said gate, and mechanism for immobilizing said gate upon the arrival of the leading rocket in the firing position, said mechanism comprising a latch for locking the gate and a linkage connected to said latch, said linkage being arranged to be actuated by the leading rocket during its final movement into firing position.

6. In a rocket. launcher, a launching rail, a magazine through which rockets are advanced toward a firing position on said launching rail, a, gate for advancing the rockets from said magazine into firing position, means for driving said gate, mechanism for immobilizing said gate upon the arrival of the leading rocket in the firing position whereby the said rocket is supported by said launching rail and gate, said mechanism comprising a latch for locking said gate against movement, and latch operating means comprising a lever arranged to be swung by the leading rocket during its final movement into the fiiring position.

7. In a rocket launcher, a launching way, a magazine through which rockets are advanced toward a firing position on said way, a rotary gate for controlling the advance of rockets from said magazine into firing position, a member for izmmobilizing said gate upon the arrival of the leading rocket in the firing position, means for operating said member comprising a spring loaded lever, a movable stop constructed and arranged normally to prevent said lever from moving said member into operative relation to said gate, and connections arranged to be engaged and actuated by the leading rocket during its final movement into firing position to render said stop inoperative and to cause said lever to move said member into locking engagement with said gate.

8. In a rocket launcher, a launching rail, a magazine through which rockets are advanced toward a firing position on said rail, a rotary gate arranged to cooperate with said rail to support the leading rocket in firing position, a latch for immobilizing said gate upon the arrival of the ieading rocket in the firin position, means for operating said latch comprising a spring loaded member, a stop cooperatin with said member normally to hold said latch out of engagement with said gate, mechanism for rendering said stop inoperative, said mechanism comprising a lever arranged to be swung by the leading rocket during its final movement into firing position, and means for operatin said member in opposition to said mechanism to release said latch from said gate whereby said gate may be operated to jettison the leading rocket.

9. In a rocket launcher, a launching way, a magazine through which rockets are advanced toward a firing position on said launching way, a gate for advancing the rockets from said magazine into firing position, means for driving said gate, a latch cooperating with said gate to lock it against movement upon the arrival of the leading rocket in firing position, and mechanism operable in one direction to engage said latch with said gate, said mechanism comprising a member arranged to be actuated by the leading rocket during its final movement into thefiring position, and means for moving said mechanism in the resaid gate, said mechanism comprising a member arranged to be actuated by the leading rocket during its final movement into the firing position, and means for moving said mechanism in the reverse direction to disengage said latch from said gate when the fired rocket moves out of engagement with said member, said last-mentioned means including a member mounted to impinge upon said latch in response to the pressure of the blast of a fired rocket.

11. In a rocket launcher, a launching way, a magazine, a feeding mechanism for advancing rockets through said magazine toward a firing position on said launching way, a gate for advancing rockets from said feeding mechanism into firing position, means for driving said feeding mechanism and gate in synchronism with each other, a brake comprising a movable shoe and a fixed drum, connections between said feeding mechanism and shoe for engaging said shoe with said drum in response to a drivin force exerted in either direction by said feeding mechanism on said connections, thereby to prevent said feeding mechanism from overrunning or counterrunning said driving means, and connections between said shoe and said driving means for disengaging said shoe from said drum in response to a drivin force exerted by said driving means.

12. In a rocket launcher, a launching way, a magazine, a feeding mechanism for advancing rockets through said magazine into firing posiverse direction to disengage said latch from said tion on said launching way, means for driving said feeding mechanism, a brake comprising a movable shoe and a fixed drum, connections associated with said feeding mechanism for engagin said shoe with said drum in response to motion of said feeding mechanism in excess of or opposite to that of said driving means, and connections associated with said driving means for disengaging said shoe from said drum in response to driving force exerted by said driving means. 13. In a rocket launcher, a launching way, a magazine, a feeding mechanism for advancing rockets through said magazine into a firing position on said launchin way, means for driving said feeding mechanism, a brake interposed between said driving means and said feeding mech-,

anism, said brake comprising a coil-spring shoe and a drum, connections between said feeding mechanism and said shoe for deforming said shoe into wrapping engagement with said drum in response to a driving force exerted by said feeding mechanism on said connections, and connections between said shoe and said driving means for deforming said shoe out of wrapping engagement with said drum in response to a driving force exertedby said driving means on said last-mentioned connections.

CHESTER W. CARTER.

No references cited. 

